College Football Essentials 2024: Games and Players to Watch in Week 2

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 2 of the 2024 college football season.

The season is in full swing and has started with a historic number of lopsided wins. Hopefully we will see more exciting games this week and that could happen right off the bat with a noon clash between two of the best teams in the country. The season opener against the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns (new to the SEC) will be very well attended by the NFL.

And hopefully the game itself will be as good as the talent in the team lineups suggests.

(10) Michigan vs. (3) Texas

Fox – Noon

Last week, the schedule makers gave us Georgia vs. Clemson for lunchtime, and this week they're treating us to a potential playoff matchup. These are two of the most talented teams in all of college football, and it could be an extraordinary game.

Normally, I would say the quarterback situation at Texas would be the big draw. After all, Quinn Ewers has been heavily courted and his potential has many fans. Ewers is also struggling to keep Arch Manning in check, the hype around him is a given even though he is still a backup player.

However, this game is not only teeming with future NFL players, but also potential first-rounders.

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Mason Graham could both be in the top 10 — if not the top 5. Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks will be in contention for the first draft spot at offensive tackle, while receiver Isaiah Bond could be one of the first wideouts drafted if he plays as well as expected.

And as a side note, this is the only game this week where I would be surprised if Joe Schoen not participate.

Players in focus

Texas

• Quinn Ewers (Quarterback)
• Kelvin Banks (OT)
• DJ Campbell (iOL)
• Isaiah Bond (WR)
• Matthew Golden (WR)
• Trey Moore (edge)
• Jahdae Barron (CB)
• Andrew Mukuba (S)

Michigan

• Colston Loveland (TE)
• Donovan Edwards (RB)
• Mason Graham (iDL)
• Kenneth Grant (iDL)
• Josiah Stewart (edge)
• Jaishawn Barham (LB)
• Will Johnson (centre back)
• Rod Moore (S)

Kentucky vs. South Carolina

ABC – 3:30 p.m.

The Kentucky Wildcats may not get much national attention, but the Giants are definitely keeping an eye on them. After all, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson was a surprise second-round pick out of Kentucky in 2022 and Dru Phillips was drafted in the third round this year.

And Kentucky has talent on its roster again this year. Deone Walker is at the top of the iDL depth chart along with Mason Graham.

But perhaps the most intriguing player is not eligible for the draft and did not even touch the ball in Week 1.

That would be South Carolina sophomore receiver Nyck Harbor, who tops Bruce Feldman's “Freaks List” for the second year in a row. The term “world class” doesn't quite describe Harbor's athletic potential. The 6'5″, 240-pound receiver is a second-team All-American track star who ran times of 10.1 in the 100 meters and 20.20 in the 200 meters for South Carolina this summer. His long-distance speed is estimated to result in a 4.3-second 40-yard dash despite his size as a fullback.

Harbor is still inexperienced as a receiver, but it's almost surprising that South Carolina hasn't been able to get him touches.

Players in focus

Kentucky

• Barion Brown (WR)
• Dane Key (WR)
• Deone Walker (iDL)
• Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB)
• Maxwell Hairston (CB)

South Carolina

• Raheim Sanders (RB)
• TJ Sanders (DL)
• Deandre Jules (DL)
• Tonka Hemingway (DL)
• Debo Williams (running leg)

(24) NC State vs. (14) Tennessee

ABC – 7:30 p.m.

There aren't many matchups between top-ranked teams this early in the season, so this game could be an early highlight. However, there's no doubt that the best player on the field will be Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr.

Pearce is currently the favorite to be the first edge defender drafted and a potential top 10 (or top 5) pick. The 6'5″, 250-pound junior had 52 total pressures last year and has the length, speed, acceleration and smoothness you'd expect from an NFL pass rusher. His presence could make this a must-see video for NC State offensive tackle Anthony Belton.

Belton is a massive lineman at 6'4″ and 330 pounds and has a reputation for being a very tough pass protector. He plays with all the power his frame suggests, but moves better than expected for a player who could weigh around 340 pounds. His performance against Pearce could set the tone for his draft process and whether teams will view him as a guard or tackle prospect.

NC State quarterback Grayson McCall might also be worth keeping an eye on. You may know McCall from his long and very successful career at Coastal Carolina, but now the three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year is looking to prove he belongs in the ACC.

Players in focus

Tennessee

• Chris Brazzel (WR)
• Bru McCoy (WR)
• Javontez Spraggins (iOL)
• James Pearce Jr. (Edge)
• Elijah Simmons (iDL)

NC State

• Grayson McCall (Quarterback)
• Anthony Belton (OT)
• Dacari Collins (WR)
• Davin Vann (DL/edge)
• Aydan White (centre-back)